LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending James R. Knickman, Ph. D., upon the
occasion of his retirement after 10 years of distinguished service as
Founding President and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend James R.
Knickman, Ph. D., upon the occasion of his retirement after 10 years of
distinguished service as Founding President and CEO of the New York
State Health Foundation to be celebrated at a Retirement Event held in
his honor on Monday, February 22, 2016; and
WHEREAS, James R. Knickman earned his Bachelor's degree in both Soci-
ology and Psychology from Fordham University and obtained his Ph. D. in
Public Policy Analysis from the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, James R. Knickman became the founding President and
CEO of the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth), a foundation
created by the Legislature committed to improving the health and welfare
of all New Yorkers; today, this vital organization works to build heal-
thy communities and empower health care consumers; and
WHEREAS, Under James R. Knickman's luminous direction, the Foundation
has grown into a highly professional extraordinary organization which
has maximized its limited resources to promote important advances in
health policy, health care and public health; and
WHEREAS, James R. Knickman is a member of numerous boards and commit-
tees, including: the National Council on Aging, Philanthropy New York,
Fordham College's Board of Visitors, the National Resource Center for
Participant-Directed Services, and Rutgers Center for State Health Poli-
cy; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, the Foundation was instrumental in
implementing the Affordable Care Act, improving care for patients with
diabetes, and attracting federal funds to support community health
centers and vulnerable veteran families; and
WHEREAS, After a decade of exceptional leadership and guidance, James
R. Knickman will officially retire from his esteemed position on March
1, 2016; he will then return to his roots and join the faculty of New
York University (NYU); and
WHEREAS, In this role, James R. Knickman will have a combined appoint-
ment in both NYU's Langone Medical Center Department of Population
Health and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service; in
addition, he will serve as the Robert Derzon Chair in Health and Public
Service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend James R. Knickman, Ph. D., upon the occasion of his retirement
as Founding President and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation,
and to wish him continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James R. Knickman, Ph. D.